The mother of Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni and her partner have admitted 23 benefit fraud charges totalling nearly $100,000.

Beverley Sepuloni and partner Michael Rangi entered the guilty pleas in the New Plymouth District Court.

The charges arose from neither defendant informing government agencies that they commenced a relationship in October, 2003.

NZME reports Judge Allan Roberts remanded the couple at large and ordered them to appear for sentencing on March 31st.

Carmel Sepuloni has been stood down by Labour leader Andrew Little from her social development spokeswoman role while her mother’s case is before the court because of a potential conflict of interest.